Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/569

 APPENDIX. 525 NOTE XVI. The Author's Authority for the Numbers which he STATES TO HAVE BEEN PRESENT AT InKEKMAN. Amongst our officers present in the battle, there prevails, I believe, an impression that the numbers assigned to the Eussians by the groat official work published under the auspices of General de Todleben, have been much under- stated ; and I must acknowledge that I have felt a good deal of difficulty in reconciling the assertions there made with the great show of numerical strength which the enemy found means to make in the Third Period of the action ; but, on the other hand, I repose confidence in the good faith of the illustrious soldier who has allowed this work to appear under the aegis of his name ; and, upon the whole, I have come to the conclusion that, instead of ask- ing the reader to contemplate the assaults of legions inde- finitely vast, I shaU do well to accept the basis afforded me by statements which are not only official, but supported in the face of Europe by the General's deliberate sanction. I of course permit myself to correct the little errors which I find made through mere inadvertence in one or two places ; but subject to these slight qualifications, I adopt all those statements of the Eussian numbers at Inkerman, which are sanctioned by the General's authority. And, after all, the disparity that there was between the Eussian and the English numbers remains sufficiently won- derful. As regards the numbers of the English engaged in the battle, there was not that facility for coming to a conclu- sion which is aftbrded by a glance at the ' Morning State ; ' for, excepting only Pennefather's force (which was attacked,